Loss-chasing, alexithymia, and impulsivity in a gambling task: alexithymia as a precursor to loss-chasing behavior when gambling

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Bibby, Peter A. (2016) Loss-chasing, alexithymia, and impulsivity in a gambling task: alexithymia as a precursor to loss-chasing behavior when gambling. Frontiers in Psychology, 7 . 3/1-3/13. ISSN 1664-1078

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Abstract

Objective: To examine the relationship between loss-chasing, the propensity to continue gambling to recover from losses, alexithymia, a personality trait associated poor emotional processing and impulsivity, the tendency to act quickly without reflection or consideration of the consequences.

Method: Two experiments are reported (E1: N = 60, Males, 11; Age, 21.6 years. E2: N = 49, Males, 22; Age, 21.1 years). In experiment 1, two groups (low alexithymia, high alexithymia) completed the Cambridge Gambling Task (CGT). Loss-chasing behavior was investigated. In experiment 2, both alexithymia (low, high) and impulsivity (low, high) were examined also using the CGT. A further change was the order of bet proportion from ascending to descending.

Results: Experiment 1 shows loss-chasing behavior in participants high in alexithymia but not those low in alexithymia (ηp2 = 0.09). Experiment 2 shows loss-chasing behavior in participants both low and high in alexithymia but it was greater for participants high in alexithymia (ηp2 = 0.09). The effect of impulsivity was not statistically significant (ηp2 = 0.01). Loss-chasing behavior was correlated with the emotional facets of alexithymia but not the cognitive facet.

Conclusions: Alexithymia is a precursor to loss-chasing when gambling and loss-chasing reflects the cognitive and emotional aspects of gambling. Specifically, the tendency to loss-chase depends on the need to recoup previous losses and failure to process the emotional consequences of those losses

Item Type: Article
RIS ID: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/772060
Additional Information: This Document is Protected by copyright and was first published by Frontiers. All rights reserved. It is reproduced with permission
Keywords: loss-chasing, alexithymia, impulsivity, gambling
Schools/Departments: University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Science > School of Psychology
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00003
Depositing User: Eprints, Support
Date Deposited: 01 Apr 2016 12:22
Last Modified: 04 May 2020 17:30
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/32588

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